Foods That Get Healthier When You Pair Them With Booze

You know the old adage, often attributed to Ben Franklin: Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy, and the same goes with wine (in fact, wine may be what Franklin was originally talking about). Not only are they delicious; they can make some of your favorite foods even better for you—or reduce the effects of indulging. Here are six surprising foods that only get better when you hoist a glass alongside them:

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Salmon, Tuna, and Other Fatty Fish

arthur dent via shutterstock

Care for a glass of vino with your fish? The answer should always be yes. Wine-drinkers tend to have higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids in their blood, according to findings published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. To get the biggest benefit, pick a Pinot Noir or Merlot over Chardonnay or Pinot Grigio. Red wine packs 10 times as many of the beneficial polyphenols that are thought to play a role in helping your body absorb more of the healthy fats.

If you’re going to indulge in greasy, fatty foods every now and then, you might as well also enjoy the occasional adult beverage. Why? While the jury might be out on saturated fat, most experts still say that eating too much of the stuff can raise your “bad” (LDL) cholesterol. But some research suggests that moderate wine and beer consumption can actually help boost your “good” (HDL) cholesterol and potentially lower your risk for heart disease.

Though there’s some evidence that you don’t want to throw back a bacon cheeseburger and a beer in the same sitting.

Wait, there’s a delicious thing to make already insanely healthy nuts even better for you? Yes—and that thing is beer. Nuts like almonds, cashews, and peanuts are loaded with magnesium, which keeps your muscle tissue healthy and can even help your muscles relax after exercising (maybe pop a few after trying to PR in your local beer mile). Your body needs B vitamins to absorb magnesium—and beer, believe it or not, has plenty of them. Looks like the classic bar snack isn’t so bad after all.

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